Tray having integral divider straps



F. E. FOBIANO Dec. 3, 1968 Filed June 29, 1967 Mwaw AT 'TOQNEVS Dec. 3, 1968 o o 3,414,182

TRAY HAVING INTEGRAL DIVIDER STRAPS Filed June 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet f3 r-fi P S- 1 N VEN TOR- ATTOQNEYS United States Patent 3 414 182 TRAY HAVING INTEGitAL DIVIDER STRAPS Frank E. Fobiano, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Premier Carton Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 29, 1967, Ser. No. 649,945 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tray-type paperboard carton having a bottom wall, end walls and side walls and divider straps struck frcm said side walls and extending across the carton to divide it into at least two compartments.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a tray or boat-type carton, and more particularly, the invention is directed to a carton having one or more transverse dividers intermediate the end walls to divide the carton into two or more compartments.

Divided tray-type cartons are well-known in the prior art and are used extensively in the packaging of confectioneries. For example, the carton is used where two or more cookies or cakes are to be packaged in the same carton in such a manner as to be visible, the dividers being used to keep the individual items separated from each other, thereby minimizing the possibility of damage to the articles as the packages are being handled and to present a more symmetrical and attractive package.

The trays of the prior art have usually had a bottom wall, side walls and end walls formed from a one-piece blank. Dividers have been provided, but these have been separate elements introduced after the main tray structure is formed.

Summary of the invention As contrasted-to the prior art, the present invention provides a tray structure having the usual bottom, side and end walls. Additionally, the tray structure includes divider straps integral with the blank from which the main carton structure is formed. The divider straps are preferably struck from the side walls with straps extending transversely partially across the carton and opposing straps having their ends interlocking to form the dividers. While striking the straps from the top edge portion of the side walls, a substantial portion of the side wall structure remains intact so that the effective height of the side walls is not materially diminished by removing the stra portion thereof. It is thus possible not only to obtain divider straps from the one-piece blank, but also the straps are obtained without any sacrifice of, or requirement for, additional material to form the dividers.

Brief descriptioln 0f the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the carton is formed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the straps interlocked.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton is formed.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, the carton of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. While it is preferred that it be formed of paperboard, it can be easily understood that the invention is applicable to other forms of sheet material such as plastic, metal or the like.

3,414,182 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 The carton indicated at 10 has a bottom wall 11, end walls 12 and 13 and side walls 14 and 15. Each end wall is formed by an end panel 16 and end flaps 17 and 18. The end flaps 17 and 18 are notched and slit, as shown at 19 and 20, respectively, to permit the flaps to be locked together to hold the side and end walls in their erected condition.

Each side wall has divider straps 23 and 24 struck from the upper edge portion of the side wall. The straps 23 are struck from the side wall 15 leaving a post 25 to which the strap 23 is hinged along a crease 26. The free end of the strap 23 has a tenon 27 which is used to provide and interlock with strap 24.

Similarly, the strap 24 is struck from the side wall 14, leaving a post 28 from which the strap 24 is hinged along the crease 29. The free end of the strap 24 has a mortise 30 which cooperates with the tenon 27 on the opposing strap to lock the straps together, (FIG. 3), thereby forming a divider 31.

The posts 25 and 28 not only form a support for the straps 23 and 24, but additionally they form upward projections of the side walls and assist in confining the goods within the carton.

As shown in FIG. 4, the carton is formed from a generally rectangular one-piece blank indicated at 35. The side walls 14 and 15 are connected to the bottom wall 11 along longitudinal creases 36. The end panels 16 are hinged to the bottom wall along creases 37. The creases 37 also form the hinge connection between the flaps 17, 18 and the respective side walls 15 and 14.

The carton is erected by bending the panels 16 to a right angle with respect to the bottom wall 11 and then bending the side walls 14 and 15 until they, too, are perpendicular to the bottom wall 11. In swinging the side walls up, the flaps 17 and 18 are swung gradually along the creases 37 to bring the notches and slits 19 and 20 into locking interengagement. Thus, when the side walls are brought to an erected condition, the end flaps 17 and 18 at each end of the carton are also brought to their erect locked condition which holds the carton in an erect condition. The straps 23 and 24 are swung toward each other and the tenon of strap 23 snaps resiliently into locking connection with the mortise 30 of strap 24, thereby forming the divider 31. As shown, three dividers are employed to form a four-compartment tray. Obviously, any number of dividers can be used.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising:

a bottom wall,

end panels hinged to opposite ends of said bottom wall,

side panels hinged to opposite sides of said bottom wall,

said side panels each having opposed cooperating divider straps struck therefrom,

said straps being hinged along one edge to said side panel and having a length greater than one-half the width of said bottom wall,

one of said straps having a mortise formed in its end and the opposed strap having a tenon formed in its end, said mortise and tenon cooperating to lock said straps together to form transverse dividers when said side walls are erected.

2. A carton comprising:

a bottom wall,

end panels hinged to opposite ends of said bottom wall,

side panels hinged to opposite sides of said bottom wall,

said side panels having opposed cooperating divider straps struck therefrom,

said straps being hinged along one edge to said side panel and having a length greater than one-half the width of said bottom wall,

said opposed divider straps having cooperating interlocking ends which permit opposed straps to be joined together to form transverse dividers when said side walls are erected, and

end flaps hinged to the ends of said side Walls, said end flaps having means for locking opposed end flaps together to provide a strap acorss each end of the carton to hold the end panel and side panels erect.

3. A carton compising:

a bottom wall,

end panels hinged to opposite ends of said bottom wall,

side panels hinged to opposite sides of said bottom wall,

said side panels having opposed cooperating divider straps struck therefrom,

said straps being hinged along one edge to said side panel and having a length greater than one-half the width of said bottom Wall,

each said strap being struck from the top edge portion of a side wall leaving a projecting portion to form a post to which said strap is hinged,

said opposed divider straps having cooperating interlocking ends which permit opposed straps to be joined together to form transverse dividers when said side wall are erected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,077,322 11/1913 Ward 229-28 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

